Column: Cats now comfy in their own skin

I could be flat-out, drop-dead wrong, which normally goes without saying around here.

But I think there is a chance we will look at these past few weeks as the turning point of Kansas State's season, the time when the Wildcats stopped trying to be the team everyone expected and started playing like the team they actually are.

Back in November, with Curtis Kelly on the bench for unspecified transgressions, we knew K-State wouldn't be the team everyone picked to win the Big 12 until Kelly returned to the lineup.

Well, it's January, and that still hasn't happened. Kelly will miss K-State's first two Big 12 games as part of his punishment for accepting discounted clothing, and even when he comes back, does anyone expect 15 points and 10 rebounds right away? When he's not suspended, Kelly is averaging 10 points and four boards, and those aren't the numbers of a first-team All-Big 12 forward.

The team everyone envisioned in the preseason was a mirage. That was a team with Jacob Pullen as a do-it-all point guard and Kelly as a dominant, dependable big man. It was a team like Kansas had last year, with two elite players surrounded by complementary pieces.

That team doesn't exist, and it never did. Pullen is at his best when he plays like he did Monday against Savannah State, taking the opportunities he is given instead of trying to create them for himself. Kelly, while immensely talented, is not the kind of player you want to stake your season on.

With the two seniors suspended, we saw who the Wildcats are and have to be. Players like Wally Judge, Rodney McGruder and Jamar Samuels can't be sidekicks to Pullen and Kelly; they have to be significant contributors. K-State needs post presence by committee instead of relying on Kelly as its interior threat, and Pullen needs to blend with the rest of K-State's backcourt.

The Wildcats might have figured this out on their own, but the suspensions seemed to accelerate the process.

"It's forced everyone involved to take ownership," coach Frank Martin said, "to take a closer look at how important it is that we play together, that we grow, because winning is so difficult."

This clearly isn't the team everyone hyped in the preseason, which doesn't make it a worse one, necessarily. It's just different — younger, scrappier, with more room to grow.

It's not a team you'd pick to win the Big 12, but it's a team that can beat anyone in the league on a given night. It's not a team you'd put in your Final Four, but it's a team capable of winning four straight games under the right circumstances.

Instead of depending on two players every game, this team will need to win in a variety of ways — some nights with Pullen's shooting, some nights with McGruder's, some nights with the post presence of Judge and Freddy Asprilla.

Basically, this team is more of a team.

"This situation that happened with Jacob and Curtis forced our team to react to adversity," Martin said. "Can I sit here and tell you we're going to win more games? I've got no idea (about) winning and losing, what's going to happen. But I know this: We're a lot better basketball team now than we were a month ago."

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Austin, you're spot on. The group of guys that have taken the floor the last few games have done so as a team. If Pullen and Kelly can work their way back knowing they're not needed for the cats to win then maybe this is a top 5 team. Without em, top 20 and look out in 2012!

has the body and frame to be much better then Kelly. No idea if that will happen.

Never understood the hype with Pullen. Meek did nail that one.

Sorry Wildcat4life, I wear purple too, but this is not a top five team. But, neither is Ku as Big 12 as conference play will reveal. Ku is better then KSU however but only because of Josh Selby. They are still beatable however.

Great article and dead on. I hate that these kids got in trouble, but am proud at how Frank and KSU handled it. They will be better young men for the experience and the team will be more ready for the games that really count.

The Cats will soon find out in Big 12 play how important fundamentals are (turnovers & free throws) and hopefully they have made some progress. Wish Frank would keep Pullen quiet from the press as without Clemente, all he can run is his mouth, not the Team and the only places that 'Fear the Beard" are the local Department stores. KU is definitely a top 5 Team, while K-State is not nor are they even close, but that doesn't matter if they play hard and keep improving.
In all reality, the Cats have potential to be somewhere in the upper middle of the Big 12 maybe between 4th and 6th and that is terrific!! I think now they have divulged they were seriously over-rated yet they have lots of potential and can be a dangerous Team later on like many others. What is most disappointing is the two Seniors really let them down which could turn out to be in their favor in years to come.

Whether its the Hawkzone or the Catzone you still blab on about KU....and you just said that KU isn't a top 5 team and the big12 will reveal that???? hahahaha.....Isn't that what you people have been saying the past 6 years......now there's some intelligence!! right on, hahaha

Well it has been and will continue to be an exciting season anyway! No one has any idea how this thing will turn out. However I think this is a young team with lots of promise and I suspect that they will continue to grow as the season progresses. Soooooo Let's Go 'Cats!!!!!

I agree with your statement. K-State has played a tough schedule. I knew they would take their lumps and will still take some. Coach Martin has them making progress. I feel they have a chance of playing their best ball just like last year in Feb and March. Some K-State fans and most KU fans like to degrade K-State and WSU. Both have good teams this year. K-State is young and should only get better. In the end the adversity they have faced may pay big dividends only time will tell. Rather than get into worthless internet wars I will relax and enjoy the season and let it play out. Feel we may end up better than many are saying now. Go Cats

Than who are the frontrunners of the conference? KU yes, Texas (maybe), Baylor? Ok, after that you need 2 or 3 more ahead of the cats for them to finish 6th or 7th. That's just stupid. And I'll stick to my guns saying IF (obviously a big IF) Pullen and Curtis find their place in this team, it is a top 5 team behind Duke, KU ,Ohio State and somebody from the Big East. I agree with phog, we are on the radar now and the hunted instead of the hunter and all I'll now join elkwc and let the season play out and will wait until March to eat crow or say I told you so.

KSU and Frank Martin have a great team this year and if you ask me they have an excellent shot at winning the Big12! Although they had no business being picked over KU they were and that says something.....Respect from the conference!

Prediction- KSU over OSU by 6! Good luck to BOTH kansas schools as the big12 starts!